United Arab Emirates
Asia Β· Capital: Abu Dhabi
How it is run: United Arab Emirates is a member of the United Nations, so it gets one vote in the General Assembly. Use the research links below to find out exactly who makes the laws there.
United Arab Emirates is home to 11.5 million people in Western Asia, where people speak Arabic.
Numbers that tell a story π’
π₯ People
11.5 million people
That is 0.1% of everybody alive (counted in 2025).
πΊοΈ Land
83,600 kmΒ²
Roughly the size of Italy or the state of Arizona.
ποΈ How crowded
About 138 people per square kilometre β busy towns with countryside in between.
π Size in its region
27th most people in Asia
33rd largest by land in Asia.
π£οΈ Official languages
Arabic
π° Money
United Arab Emirates dirham (Ψ―.Ψ₯)
Life here today π©Ί
These come from World Bank open data β the same numbers governments use when they argue about budgets.
β€οΈ How long people live
83.1 years on average
One of the healthier countries β good hospitals and clean water make a big difference.
πΌ Money made per person each year
about US$50,274
A high-income country: most families can afford cars, travel and new technology.
π’ Living in cities
86% of people
Mostly a city country β think buses, trains and apartment blocks.
π Kids under 15
16% of the population
A fairly balanced mix of young and old.
Everyday details π§
π Phone code
+971
Dial this before the number to call from another country.
π Websites end in
.ae
π§ People here are called
Emirati
π·οΈ Name at home
Ψ§ΩΨ₯Ω Ψ§Ψ±Ψ§Ψͺ
Also written: Emirates.
π Coast or inland
Has a coastline
ποΈ UN voting group
Asia and the Pacific Group
Countries in the same group often plan votes together.
Neighbours & borders π€
United Arab Emirates touches 2 neighbours by land. Neighbours share rivers, roads and usually a lot of trade.
Say its name around the world π£οΈ
Countries have different names in different languages. Try these with a penpal.
Spanish
Emiratos Γrabes Unidos
French
Γmirats arabes unis
Arabic
Ψ§ΩΨ₯Ω Ψ§Ψ±Ψ§Ψͺ
Chinese
ιΏζδΌ―θει ιΏε½
Japanese
UAE
Russian
ΠΠ±ΡΠ΅Π΄ΠΈΠ½ΡΠ½Π½ΡΠ΅ ΠΡΠ°Π±ΡΠΊΠΈΠ΅ ΠΠΌΠΈΡΠ°ΡΡ
Portuguese
Emirados Γrabes Unidos
German
Vereinigte Arabische Emirate
Put it in perspective π
- India β the most populated country in Asia β has about 127.1Γ as many people as United Arab Emirates.
- United Arab Emirates covers roughly 796 times the area of Hong Kong Island.
- If everyone in United Arab Emirates lined up shoulder to shoulder, the line would stretch about 5,757 km.
Fast facts π§
Fact of the day: The capital of United Arab Emirates is Abu Dhabi β that's where the country's big decisions get made.
π·οΈ Official name
United Arab Emirates
ποΈ Capital
Abu Dhabi
π Region
Asia Β· Western Asia
π€ Country code
AE
ποΈ UN status
UN member state
π© Independence
Independent country
More about United Arab Emirates π
Burj Khalifa
At 828 m it is the tallest building in the world. The temperature at the top can be several degrees cooler than the ground.
See it in Street Viewπ§ Where on the map
24.0Β° N, 54.0Β° E
π Half of the world
Northern & Eastern hemisphere
π°οΈ Clock check
Roughly UTC+4 β when it is noon in London it is about 16:00 in Abu Dhabi.
- United Arab Emirates is an independent country, meaning it makes its own laws.
- United Arab Emirates shares its part of the world with Armenia. Countries close together often trade the most with each other.
- The capital of United Arab Emirates is Abu Dhabi β that's where the country's big decisions get made.
- π¦πͺ is the flag of United Arab Emirates. Its country code β the short name used on the internet and at the Olympics β is AE.
- United Arab Emirates is a full member of the United Nations, so it gets one vote in the General Assembly β the same as every other member, big or small.
Countries nearby π€
Talk about it π¬
- United Arab Emirates has 1 official language. How would your school day change if lessons were taught in more than one language?
- United Arab Emirates can trade by sea. What should a country protect first: its ports, its fishing waters, or its beaches?
- If United Arab Emirates spoke at the General Assembly tomorrow, what one problem should its delegate ask the world to help fix?
Quick quiz π§ͺ
Guess first, then tap to check your answer.
What is the capital of United Arab Emirates?
Abu Dhabi
Which money do people spend in United Arab Emirates?
United Arab Emirates dirham (Ψ―.Ψ₯)
How many countries share a land border with United Arab Emirates?
2 β Oman, Saudi Arabia.
Roughly how many people live in United Arab Emirates?
11.5 million people
Keep researching π
Everything here is a starting point. These trusted sites, databases and libraries will take you further β and they are the kind of sources a teacher will accept in a report.
Start here β kid-friendly encyclopedias π
Short articles written for students, with maps and photos you can use in a report.
Official data & government sources ποΈ
Primary sources. Cite these when your teacher asks for real data.
News & current policy π°
Use two different outlets before you decide what you think.
Your library card π«
Libraries give you books, databases and librarians β all free.
Library tip: Ask your school or public librarian for their online databases (like Gale in Context or EBSCO Explora). Your library card unlocks them for free at home, and they are already checked by adults for school use.